Elon Musk’s involvement in British politics has sparked fresh debate, with the tech billionaire expressing support for Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer facing serious criminal allegations, in his bid to run for UK’s prime minister, Daily Beast reports.
Musk, who has previously called for King Charles III to dissolve parliament and hold a general election, has been vocal about his concerns regarding child grooming gangs in the UK.
Despite an existing national inquiry, Musk has criticised Labour Party leader Keir Starmer for not addressing the issue more thoroughly and even demanded his resignation on his X account. Now, Musk appears to have thrown his weight behind Tate’s political ambitions, despite Tate’s controversial past.
Musk endorsed a post that praised Tate’s entry into British politics, agreeing with a statement that Tate’s actions could “transform British politics” and create a movement of men demanding change. Tate, who previously was banned from X for his comments on sexual assault, recently announced his intention to run for Prime Minister of the UK, despite his lack of political experience and fundamental misunderstandings of British politics. In a post to his millions of followers on X, he jokingly asked if he should run to “save Britan.”
Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynist, is known for his extreme views and criminal allegations, including rape and human trafficking. Along with his brother, he faces charges in Romania for exploiting women, and both are set to be extradited to the UK to face additional allegations. Tate has denied all the charges.
Tate has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the UK government, claiming the country is in decline under current leadership. In a video clip, he criticised the “generational failure” of UK politics. In a post earlier this week, Tate dubbed himself the “unofficial Prime Minister of The United Kingdom” and expressed support for Greenland’s annexation into the US.
Musk’s backing of Tate, who is linked to the far-right, has raised concerns. His past support for figures like Tommy Robinson, a convicted criminal known for racist behaviour, has already faced criticism. Robinson was jailed for libelling a Syrian refugee, and Musk has consistently called for his release.
Musk replied “he’s not wrong” to a post on X that praised Tate, with the post stating, “Tate’s plan will be far more effective than the incumbent politicians realise.”
The post also added, “Even if he doesn’t win and become Prime Minister, his involvement will transform British politics and create an army of men demanding change.”
Alicia Kearns, a Conservative spokesperson, accused Musk of sharing content without critical thought, saying his support for figures like Robinson and Tate detracts from the victims of rape gangs and “is frankly dangerous.”
Musk’s growing influence in UK politics is causing controversy, with many British leaders urging him to stay out and pointing out his lack of understanding of UK politics.
